The Debate of the Free World is in Your Hands

Hillary Clinton’s top campaign operatives today continued their efforts to line up future debates with Barack Obama, sending a letter to the Obama camp, saying: "We hope Senator Obama will join Senator Clinton for a debate a week beginning this weekend.” The Clinton camp notified the press about the letter early this morning, which they said campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle will be sending to Obama’s campaign manager David Plouffe.

For their part, the Obama camp objected to the challenge, or at least the manner in which it was posed. “Their tactic is underscored by their admission that they sent their reporters before they actually sent it to us,” said Obama spokesperson Bill Burton. “We’re going to debate but it’s not going to be dictated by the Clinton campaign. We’ll have details on our schedule, including debates, soon” (NORA McALVANAH).

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Marc Ambinder is an Atlantic contributing editor. He is also a senior contributor at Defense One, a contributing editor at GQ, and a regular contributor at The Week.